As Published in the Portage Daily Graphic Thursday June 12 2008

The Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie should be forced to hold a referendum on whether its residents want to continue with its plan to give $8 million to the PCU Centre in Portage, according to a letter sent to RM council by two Oakville-area farmers.

Abe Peters and Bob Murray sent the letter to RM council, which outlined the matter to councillors. The referendum should be held if the multiplex committee decides to change any plans for the project, which has come in over budget.

Plans for the multiplex, which included two arenas, an aquatic centre and a fitness centre were released at a public meeting on May 15. The city and RM admitted at that time changes would have to be made to the plans because the building was more expensive than they could afford.

The original estimate for the project came in around $36 million, while the revised estimated cost was actually $42 million, and the build has been put on hold while planners look at ways of cutting costs, which may include changes to the plans.

“There is more than likely going to be changes made from the presentation that was made a week or two ago,” said Reeve Toby Trimble. “We’re in the process of meeting and deciding where we’re going to go.”

The RM authorized a borrowing bylaw allowing it to take on the $8-million debt on Aug. 14, 2007. No one showed up in opposition of it at a public hearing before the vote. Peters said that’s because no one knew about the hearing, and farmers were too busy harvesting at the time to come to the meeting anyway. Some rural residents are now upset because the RM raised taxes by 5.1 per cent this year in part to pay for the multiplex.

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